Course Descriptions

SPA 221 - Hispanic Culture On Location

3 Credits

This course is designed to provide the opportunity to see and experience the richness of a Spanish speaking country through the unique experience of travel. The core part of this course will be a stay in the country, with visits to the main cities and cultural centers. Class meetings prior to the trip will focus on topics that will help the student to prepare for the experience, and meetings after the trip will provide a time for debriefing, reporting, evaluation and assimilation. The student is expected to complete ten tasks during his/her stay, make an oral presentation, and prepare a portfolio of the trip. This portfolio can be a personal journal, photo display, video recording, or a combination thereof. Three class hours.

Course Learning Outcomes
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the political and economic systems today in the country of destination, and compare it to the American systems.2. Identify the celebrations and holidays in the country's calendar, and the cultural traditions associated with birth, marriage, friendship, social interaction and death.3. Demonstrate basic proficiency in the understanding and use of the Spanish language by successfully greeting others, ordering food at a restaurant, and using basic local services like transportation, mail and telephone.4. Demonstrate an understanding of cultural differences and cultural blending by successfully resolving cultural conflicts while living on location.5. Name, distinguish and explain the main features of the different periods in the country's history.